Muslims seek common ground with fellow Americans during Ramadan

Ramadan is a time of fasting for the muslim community, celebrating the ninth month of the year.

Designated religious authorities in the United Kingdom (UK), Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium and other parts of Europe are keeping a vigil on the crescent moon, which would mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan ul-kareem (Ramzan) 2018.

Dr Huda Al-Kateb, Programme Leader BSc Food and Nutrition at Birmingham City University, said:"During Ramadan, the hunger and dehydration might affect our cognitive abilities which often means that our ability to make wise choices when it comes to what food and drink that we consume during after the period of breaking the fast".

She notes U.S. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad fasted throughout her intense training sessions and so did manyMuslim soccer players during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. "Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and righteousness".

The objective of the fast is to remind the suffering of the less fortunate people and to bring the followers closer to God. "The worst thing for me is that ramadan is going to start, exactly when my gcse's [sic] start and they both last a whole month", one user wrote.

Fasting, held from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, is one of the Five Pillars (fundamental religious duties) of Islam. Where the new moon (that of Ramadan) is sighted on the 29th of Sha'baan (May 15), Muslims are expected to commence fasting the next day.

As millions of Muslims around the world anxiously waited for the Saudi Supreme Court to officially announce start of Ramadan 2018 - the Holy Month of fasting, a UAE daily quoting Arabiya reported that the Ramadan moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and hence Ramadan will start on Thursday.

Some people are exempt from fasting: children until the age of puberty, pregnant women, travellers, the elderly and people that are chronically ill.

To prepare for the fast, Muslims eat what is commonly called "suhoor", a pre-dawn meal of power foods to get them through the day.

Dr Ahdal said the UAE uses a mixture of traditional and modern methods by first using telescopes to try to spot the new moon and then, should a new moon be seen, increasing their efforts to sight the crescent with the naked eye.

As an adult, he doesn't miss an opportunity to share his faith with others, and Ramadan is an important period of reflection and growth each year.

In his December 2015 campaign speech, Trump also said that most Muslims hated America.

"Being a minority religion is always challenging, and it's rewarding at the same time", Enchassi said.

On the day, Muslims attend a special prayer in the morning at outdoor locations or mosques.

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